Chapter 248: The Stone Staircase on the Island

Chapter 248: The Stone Staircase on the Island



Upon seeing Rayen's sudden arrival, Jenny and Agatha were initially surprised, but their expressions soon turned to realization.

Earlier that morning, they had heard the disciplined march of an army, seemingly heading out from the city.

"Sir Rayen, are you about to embark on a mission?" Jenny asked directly.

"Yes, I'm leaving to carry out a task," Rayen nodded, thinking for a moment. He felt it was better to inform the two women of the situation.

After all, no matter how tightly the news was sealed, it would inevitably spread like wildfire soon enough.

If he wasn't in Minster at that time, and the two women panicked upon learning the news, it would be worse.

"Last night, Myester was attacked, but the county town remains relatively stable," Rayen said slowly.

At that moment, Hamis's face turned pale!

% Latest chapter of the novel, first released on 6>@/9 Book Bar, please go to 69: Book <Bar to read!

Rayen circled around the black horse, examining it closely, and found that although its appearance hadn't changed much, it now had an additional ten-centimeter-long unicorn horn.

As he witnessed the black horse's successful evolution and saw the Beast Priest (Legendary) occupation on the panel, its level increased from lv1 to lv2 (31/300).

Moreover, this increase wasn't a gradual linear progression.

He placed his hand on the struggling Forest Wolf and activated the second core skill of the Beast Priest, 'Beast Vitality'! Instantly, the Forest Wolf stopped resisting.

"It's highly likely that they used some mysterious means to identify the Ancient Troll Fang as being on my person."

"Chirp~"

The sound came from the upwind direction, carrying a scent reminiscent of lavender.

Without much thought, Rayen chose 'No.'

Just as he was about to leave the city gate, Rayen looked up at the sky and saw a White Seagull descending and landing on his shoulder.

【Your Beast Priest (Legendary) occupation experience +119】

Rayen carefully examined the small bird beneath Blood Feather's sharp claws, which was already half-dead.

Rayen furrowed his brows as he looked at Blood Feather.

Damn it!

After a quarter of an hour, Rayen stopped at a nearby arrow-shaped signpost.

"If they attract the attention of a large number of Merfolk and Blood Curse Nagas, it will increase the risk of exposing my subsequent actions."

Now, he placed the Dim Light Giant Sword, the battle bow, and other weapons on the Liti War Dog, which had become a Feral Beast.

The squad leader, upon seeing this, couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Rayen! Such a young man undertaking a special mission.

Within two seconds, the wound rapidly healed. Indeed, in addition to restoring stamina, the core skill 'Beast Vitality' could also heal injuries.

At this moment, the system prompt sounded:

This indicated that the effect of Beast Vitality was closely related to the strength of the creature from which it was drawn.

Rayen slightly adjusted his overhead view and spotted a vaguely familiar figure in the team—a leather-armored figure with a dagger. "Hmm?"

"Ah? I'm fine, Lord Rayen," Agatha had initially felt a tinge of enchantment upon seeing Rayen, but it had vanished upon hearing the news of the attack on Myester.

In that situation, a Knight?

The remaining attribute points increased from 12 to 13, and more importantly, Rayen's remaining skill points were no longer zero.

"Blood Feather, are you saying this bird has been following me back and forth?"

Hamis thought, Why is this guy not staying inside to continue shooting and ambushing? Instead, he's coming out to engage in close combat with us three.

Suddenly remembering something, Rayen pulled on the reins, stopped again, dismounted, and quickly walked into the forest.

Recently, Rayen had learned from Veronica about various common birds that humans domesticated.

At the same time, he began to take out a poison bottle from his waist pouch.

Due to Veronica's influence, Rayen had also become a semi-expert on birds.

"The county town might not be safe either."

That's true.

Then, Hamis heard the sound of a watermelon being smashed by a stick to his left.

It was a parry, not a hit!

Within a five-kilometer radius, there was only this small team, which meant that the Sparrowhawk following him was sent by this team.

Of course, this effect worked well on both ordinary people and Knights. However, for a Knight of Rayen's caliber, the effect was much weaker, causing occasional hallucinations or brief moments of dizziness.

But since the sound was faint, the interference was also minimal and could be ignored.

Rayen looked at the nearby forest and urged the black horse to continue forward, while he himself hid within the forest, staying concealed.

As for the native he had killed in the trading area, of course, he knew about it. So, does that prove Rayen's strength?

Wait for Danielson to cast the Earth Magic 'Earthbind' on Rayen to restrict his movement, then use the net and poison gas to capture him alive.

Rayen's thoughts turned, and he immediately connected the dots, causing his face to turn grim.

"Is it him?"

Although this interference wasn't too strong for Rayen's high spirit of 39 points, he could still easily resist it.

Upon seeing Rayen, the man immediately became highly alert and shouted, "This is a combat zone with the Sea Clan. Please leave immediately if you are not involved!"

It wasn't that the man was particularly formidable; Rayen just didn't want to use poison.

Rayen slowed down and presented the document again before he was allowed to pass.

However, this was more than enough for Rayen.

Turn right for Flashgold Town, continue straight for Myester County Town, and of course, turn left for Seaport Town.

At this moment, the system prompts started flooding the screen: 【Your pet, Jenny Horse, has evolved into a Feral Beast, now known as 'Swift Zebra'!】

"As you wish, Sir Rayen."

Despite the effects of the poison gas, his rushing body only staggered slightly, but his speed remained undiminished.

The next second, with another explosive sound!

But in the tense battle, the three of them didn't have time to ponder the reason for the scent.

Previously, they had been eating grass, but now, having tasted meat for the first time, the swift zebra felt like it had discovered a new continent! After the swift zebra finished eating, Rayen took a test ride and found that compared to before, its endurance seemed to have significantly improved.

As Rayen passed through Wales County and entered the territory of Myester, the inspections at the checkpoints along the way became noticeably stricter.

As for the bodies of the four and the dog?

Their eyes seemed to light up.

"Something's wrong, the horse's hoofprints are much shallower." Hamis's narrow eyes narrowed, and he signaled everyone to stop.

"Wait, there's also a dog."

【Your Beast Taming skill has improved. Experience +567】

"The Hamis from Akson Auction House?"

The black horse snorted angrily, its muscles trembling, and its glossy coat was covered in bulging veins like earthworms!

This is the downside of being a Wizard Apprentice; even as a third-level apprentice, without the defensive field of a formal wizard, they are vulnerable to sneak attacks. This is why many wizard apprentices choose to also study the path of a knight, as it greatly enhances their survival capabilities.

"We're about to enter the territory controlled by Merfolk and Blood Curse Naga. Is there a way to make them fight each other?"

"Sir Rayen, we salute you!" The soldiers on guard immediately saluted.

But Rayen couldn't help but ponder.

But the next second, the group felt their vision blur, and Rayen disappeared.

In this regard, it seemed more suitable for long-distance travel.

At the same time.

The body size didn't change much, only slightly larger, becoming more robust.

He turned to a bearded man behind him and said, "Track them! Damn, they're too fast!"

The man was split in two by his arrow.

【Your pet, Jenny Horse, has started to mutate and evolve due to long-term use of the Mutation Growth Potion!】

Just now, near the city gate, he had watched as Rayen, clad in pale silver knight armor, rode a powerful black horse, accompanied by a dog, and quickly disappeared not far ahead of him.

The feeling of this surging heat flowing through his body was similar to the recovery effect after adding points, but there was something else to it.

"Perhaps the long-distance travel today allowed the accumulated effects of the Mutation Growth Potion to be fully released?"

However, Rayen's expression turned serious, and he turned to Agatha and said:

(Note: The swift zebra has awakened the talent ability 'Swift') 【Do you want to rename the swift zebra?】

Don't forget, which tribe did these natives belong to, and who exterminated them?

Soon, another checkpoint appeared ahead, more heavily guarded with multiple spiked wooden barriers blocking the road, and dozens of fully armed great shield crossbowmen on alert.

A surging heat flowed from the forest wolf into Rayen's body through his hands.

As for how to capture this Rayen alive?

When Rayen arrived at the city gate, he saw a team of fully armed imperial soldiers marching out of the city, heading towards the counties of Myester and Rosby.

"However, it's only been two days. Including your mother, Lady Jenny, there will be someone to escort her to Minstrel. You can arrange the rooms in advance."

Hamis immediately turned to look, and he saw Bueno's headless corpse slowly falling to the ground.

Just as Hamis was about to take action, he saw Rayen in front of him suddenly appear as a double image? Fuck! How is this possible!

Rayen watched this scene without haste. Instead, he slowly took the war bow from Cookie's body, drew the bow, and aimed at the other's back.

Even he was stopped by the checkpoint soldiers and questioned in detail.

Rayen, lightly armored, relied on the black horse's near-feral endurance, and rushed forward at a lightning speed! "Fuck! How is this horse so fast!"

Standing at a height, one could see two advancing snakes on the vast plain, heading in different directions.

The beasts in the forest would quickly snatch it away.

Even if they were questioned later, they could just blame it on the cult.

However, after the mutation, the flat teeth of this herbivore had grown sharp fangs.

Hearing Rayen's arrangement, Jenny's worried expression disappeared, and her face lit up with joy.

"Agatha, according to the Imperial Decree, although your father, as a noble, cannot leave his fiefdom without permission, but other members of the Wiggins family can. You can write to your father and have him arrange for some of the family to evacuate first."

Rayen dispersed the special effect of Steel Body and cut his finger with his sword.

Hamis's face changed several times, and he immediately turned and fled!

The black horse neighed loudly!

Hearing this news, the two women's faces changed, and they exclaimed, "What? Is it serious?"

Is Rayen that strong?

It was a leap in improvement.

These methods, which he should have used himself, were employed by Rayen, the swordsman, before him!

The system named it Swift Zebra, a fitting name.

Hamis couldn't help but curse.

He rushed ahead, and the soldiers also looked curiously at the obviously noble youth, galloping with a small dog the size of a foal following behind.

Upon trying the core skill 'Beast Vitality' again, Rayen found that the intensity of the mysterious heat flow he could absorb was even greater than that of the forest wolf.

In Myester, Hamish was wary of Rayen, mainly due to his identity as an Imperial Swordsman rather than his personal strength.

Before Danielson could react, a scream rang out! He felt intense pain in his waist, followed by a dizzying sensation. He saw himself falling from his horse, but his familiar legs were still in the stirrups. The bearded man behind him witnessed the whole scene! Damn it, his companion Danielson didn't even have time to react before a powerful black steel arrow struck his waist, breaking it!

If it were a Sparrowhawk, Rayen would be almost certain that someone was tracking him.

Rayen patted Cookie's furry head and praised, "Well done!"

Soon, with Cookie's help, Rayen quickly caught up with the forest wolf.

That was just perfect.

It was only slightly better than a Peak Knight.

Rayen, with the help of Blood Feather's vision, which was more than five times that of a human, quickly spotted a small team of four people several kilometers behind him on the winding road.

"Wuu~"

However, what Hamish and his group didn't notice was a raptor the size of a swan, with blue and purple feathers, circling above Rayen in the clouds.

Rayen's expression turned solemn, and he nodded, saying, "I'm on a mission."

"Enemy attack!!" Hamish's face paled, and he quickly dismounted and hid behind his horse.

"Is this an evolution?" Rayen's eyebrows rose, and he looked pleased.

"Bang!"

"What a time to evolve."

Rayen shook his head. "It's too early to tell."

If they could calm down and think, they would immediately realize that even with the presence of lavender nearby.

"Will there be more...?"

This kind of coordination had become second nature to them.

After scavenging the spoils of war, Rayen continued to move forward.

At that moment, Rayen suddenly turned to look at the black horse beside him.

After absorbing the heat flow from the wolf and the bear twice, the previously less noticeable howls and roars suddenly became much louder, and the interference to the mind became significantly stronger.

Saying so, he showed his documents to the other party.

Don't be ridiculous!

"The possibility seems unlikely."

The area was filled with forests and hills, and Rayen decided to see who was behind him. Although the Beastmaster (Superb) profession panel was covered, the 'Beast Eye' core skill was inherited in the Beast Priest (Legendary) profession panel.

After a moment's thought, Rayen didn't choose to go to Flashgold Town or the county city but instead turned left and quickly headed towards Seaport Town.

"Who could it be?"

There was a forest nearby, and they could simply dispose of the bodies in the wilderness without any need for concealment.

"It looks like a sparrow."

Hamish staggered as if drunk, swaying a few times before falling to the ground with a thud! The four-man squad was wiped out! Rayen approached and first looked at the Level 3 Wizard Apprentice.

In fact, if Cookie was still the original Liti Dog and hadn't evolved, the battle outcome would likely have been reversed.

"Chirp~" Blood Feather's lively eyes looked at Rayen and nodded, affirming his words.

Are you kidding me?

At this moment, black smoke was rising from Seaport Town, making it hard to see the current situation inside the town. However, it was clear that the remnants of the town were still burning, and battle cries could be heard from various directions.

This was why their slave-catching team was so valued by the Akson Auction House in Myester.

"Since it's like this, let's take care of the tail ourselves."

The bearded man quickly released the gray bird from the cage and pointed in Rayen's direction. The gray bird, a Sparrowhawk, took to the skies! This small gray bird, known as a Sparrowhawk, resembled a sparrow in appearance, with a small stature and gray feathers, making it unassuming. However, it possessed a speed comparable to a swift.

As Rayen rode past the Imperial Army, he noticed a change in their composition, from the Great Shield Crossbowmen he encountered earlier to the fastest Light Cavalry.

Who brought these few dozen natives here?

Rayen was thrilled, as he could now have up to four pets."

"Additionally, being surrounded is not a good idea."

At that moment, Rayen emerged from the forest, holding a two-handed warhammer and wearing a smile.

"Sir, Myester County is under a full lockdown. It's not advisable for anyone to go there on their own."

The Dutka Hound let out a mournful howl as Cookie, the Liti War Dog, bit down on its throat. The dog's eyes lost focus, and its legs were weakly kicking. At this moment, the three men had no time to care about the dog.

In his mind, a newly promoted Swordsman, so young and already achieving such a rank, was indeed impressive.

Rayen fed the Swift Horse some jerky, and it quickly devoured it with relish!

The horse stumbled a few steps, its speed slowing down.

Saving people was the priority.

"You two stay in Myester and minimize going out," Rayen instructed once again.

At that moment, Cookie approached, proudly carrying the Dutka Hound, seeking praise.

The Dutka Hound, heavier and stronger, could easily kill an ordinary Liti War Dog.

The horse's hooves pawed at the ground restlessly, seemingly agitated.

But the Life Month hadn't arrived yet, and the lavender hadn't bloomed. This was a poison Rayen had crafted according to the rare poison-making manual 'Maxwell's Rare Poison Crafting Manual,' a type of poison that caused hallucinations.

This slave-catching team is too experienced!

"Hmm, could this be a Sparrowhawk?" A sudden realization flashed through Rayen's mind.

At the same time, the bear's roar was slightly stronger than the wolf's howl.

In such a chaotic battlefield, finding Envoy Javier's younger daughter, Alisa, without guidance, would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Minutes passed, and a bump suddenly appeared on the black horse's forehead. Soon, a protrusion resembling a rhino's horn arched upward.

Additionally, the side effects of his abilities became more apparent.

Read the flawless version at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar, the first to release this novel.

The next second, a sharp tearing sound pierced the air.

That was Bueno's location!

Just as the Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, Danielson, turned to check the source of the sound, a black shadow like lightning struck him! "Ahhhh!!!"

[Ding! Host can increase the number of contracted pets, currently (3/4)]



A pair of fair hands swiftly wrote a line on white paper: "Rayen, be extra careful."

"Bang!"

After a moment of thought, Rayen shook his head.

This was the concern of the twin-tailed girl.

Soon after, Rayen stood on a hill not far from Seaport Town, gazing at the familiar town from a distance.

"To secretly tail us, they obviously don't have good intentions. They're planning to do something to us."

"Good luck to you too." Rayen smiled.

Hamis had already planned everything out. He would capture Rayen alive, torture him, and when he was done playing, he would trick him into revealing the location of the Ancient Troll Fang. Then, he would simply get rid of him.

This time, when he left, he brought along a robust Grizzly Bear.

"Is this the Beast Soul described in the skill description?" Rayen wondered.

[Mutation Evolution in Progress]



After leaving the villa, Rayen rode his black horse, with Cookie, towards the city outskirts.

"Envoy Javier?"

With a sharp tearing sound, a black lightning bolt instantly pierced through Hamis's back!

At this moment, the Blood Feather in the sky screeched and dove to catch a bird, then circled down and landed on Rayen's forearm.

But he mainly wanted to test the effect of the poison gas; otherwise, he wouldn't dare use it on these people.

A group of four continued to advance towards Rayen's location, led by none other than Hamis.

However, another core skill of the Beastmaster, 'Beast Affinity,' had disappeared. Although it was a bit regrettable, it might be because of the legendary Beast Priest profession.

Its effect was to induce hallucinations in people and animals within a certain range.

But it was merely good, and he didn't really trust it.

Fortunately, Rayen had a sensory stone given to him by Envoy Javier, which could sense Alisa's location within a few kilometers.

At this moment, the Forest Wolf looked listless and sluggish, lying on the ground, too lazy to move. But Rayen seemed to hear faint, distant wolf howls from time to time, a unique sound that seemed to subtly interfere with his mind.

After some thought, Rayen ventured deeper into the forest.

[Congratulations, your Beast Priest (Legendary) profession level has increased!]



No, this was poison gas! "As a swordsman, you... you actually used poison?" Hamis's eyes widened in disbelief as he pointed at Rayen.

Double happiness, Rayen couldn't help but smile!

After advancing a while longer, the sky was already turning to dusk.

It took Rayen an entire week to travel from Misty to Minster, but that was because he was traveling with a caravan.

Absorbing the vitality of the beast, how could you not get along with it?

Three arrows pointed in three different directions.

Now Rayen had left Minster and arrived in Misty, where a sudden battle had erupted.

What a bunch of good people!

"In other words, within a short period, if you continuously use the core skill 'Beast Vitality,' the side effect of 'Beast Soul' on your mind will become stronger and stronger?"

However, when using the innate ability 'Swift,' his speed significantly increased, and the duration was not short.

With a glance, Rayen received a mental image from the White Seagull.

At this moment, they all smelled a pleasant fragrance.

"Hmm?"

The Dutka Hound in Hamis's team, similar to the Doberman Rayen had seen in his previous life, suddenly started barking.

"No problem!" The bearded man answered while nimbly lifting a small bird cage from the side of the horse's belly.

Rayen took out an almost transparent sensory stone from his pocket and walked several meters in several directions.

With his keen perception, Rayen discovered that if he headed southeast, the stone's glow would change slightly, becoming a tad brighter.

Apparently, Alisa should be in this direction.

So, Rayen used the skill 'Beast Eye' again and, with the Blood Feather's sharp eyesight, found dozens of meters beyond the coastline to the southeast, on a nameless small island, there were numerous Merfolk gathered, among them were several significantly larger male Blood Curse Nagas! What surprised Rayen even more was that when he clearly saw the terrain of this island.

He suddenly discovered that in the center of the island, there was a large hole about seven or eight meters in diameter, and within it, a set of stone stairs leading deep underground, suggesting that this island held a secret unknown to others!

Thank you, 'Stomach,' for the 100 starting coins!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end